Aerating device for faucets and the like



June 20, 1961 H. M. RICHTER 2,989,249

AERATING DEVICE FOR FAucETs AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 23, 1960 3sheets-sheet 1 WIHIIII INVENTOR. HERBERT M. RICHTER BY Kfm/vub, DoabmwWl.

June 20, 1961 H. M. RICHTER 2,989,249

AERATING DEVICE FOR FAUcETs AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 2:5, 1960 3Sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. HERBERT M. RICHTER CML AERATING DEVICE FORFAUCETS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 23, 1960 June 20, 1961 H. M. RICHTER 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Cao INVENTOR.

HERBERT M. RICHTER kUnited States Patent This invention relates toimprovements in aeratingdevices for water faucets and the like. .y

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior ,copendingapplication for United States Letters Patent 7 entitled Aeratng Devicefor Faucets and the Like which was led April 24, 1958 and which bearsSerial No. 730,706.

There are many aerating devices for `faucets presently on the market andmany variations of such devices have been disclosed in the patent andother literature. For

the most part, however, such devices presently available and previouslydisclosed have been cumbersome in operation, complicated and diicult toclean and expensive to manufacture.

The invention herein disclosed has as its principal object thefurnishing of such a device `that is economichof manufacture, simple,small and compact in structure, readily installed and easy to remove andreplace for cleaning purposes.

Another object of this invention is to provide such. a device with acasing or housing free of lateral air suction ports, but with a waterflow guide sleeve therein and spaced therefrom to provide an unbrokencylindrical passageway for the upward ilow of air therethroughcompletely around and moving directly the reverse of the water owingthrough the sleeve peripherally to bedrawn into a suction chamber abovethe sleeve.

Another object of the invention is to provide means overlying the sleeveand downwardly projecting therein to inject a plurality of convergingjets of water under pressure and to deflect the jets' in part laterallyagainst the sleeve and downwardly thereof, and impart upwardly anddownwardly to provide an air suction area peripherally inwardly of thetop of the sleeve to suck air to the deflected jets to be intermingledtherewith as the same pass through the sleeve to provide a thoroughlysmooth aerated stream of water emanating therefrom.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a device whichwhen installed will be relatively tamperproof so that it cannot beremoved from a faucet without the utilization of a special tool providedtherefor. l

It is an additional object of this invention to provide in such a devicemeans for shutting off the arerator or varying the amount of liquid owtherethrough."

It is still another object of this invention toprovide such a devicehaving means available for regulating the aerated stream to be able toconvert the same from a straight aerated stream to a needle spray streamas desired.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessingthe features, properties, and the rela'- tion of elements as exemplifiedin the articles'hereinafter described and the scope of the applicationof which will be indicated in the claims.

An aerating device for faucets and the like embodying the invention andthe manner of using the same is described herein with references to thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective View of one form o the deviceembodying the invention; 1

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section view of the device of FIG. 1 inassembled relation illustrated as being coupled, for example, to the endof an internally threaded faucet, and portions of the assembly arebroken away to disclose the internal elementsthereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section view of an alter- PatentedJune-20, 19161 ice Anate embodiment of the device in assembled relationand ,illustrated as being coupled, for example, tothe end of athreadedfaucet with the portion thereof to the left o f a line shown in phantomillustratingy the device in closed position andthe portion to the rightof the center line illustrating the device in the open position;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of a component of the device illustrated in FIG.3 separated from the remaining portions thereof; FIG. 5I is asectiona1view taken along theline 5-5 in the direction of the arrows as indicatedin FIG.-4; and? ,.-FI G. 6 is an enlarged vertical section View ofanother embodiment of the invention in assembled relation illustrated asbeing coupled, for example, to the end of an internally threaded faucetwith the portion thereof to the leftof the center line illustrating theposition of. the components when a straight aerated stream is desiredand the portions to the right of the center line illustratingtherelationshipl of the elements when the device is arrangedifor aneedle spray. Y Referring-more particularly to the drawing, therev isshown a casingor housing 10 having a circular slotpgr groove 11 formedin the internal surface thereof approximately midway between itsupstream and downstream ends. The extreme downstream end of casing 10yis beveled inwardly at10a, A second housing section 12 is provided andlike housing section 10 it is substantially cylindrical with a boreextending therethrough. Casing 12 is formed with la circular slot orgroove 13 in its external surfaceand has aledge v14 therein adjacent itsupstream end, Ledge 14,is formed on the inner surface of casing 12andgperforms the function of supporting certain of theinternalcomponents of the assembly. It is noted that in the figures ledge V14 isshown above or on the upstreamj side of groove 13. As will becomeapparent, this relative positioning is not necessary for the properfunctioning of thefdevice. The casing 12 isA provided above the ledge14-with external threads 15 whereby the samecan `be coupled with theinternal threads of the faucet as illustrated in the drawing. AIt willbe understood, of course, that the casing 12 may likewise be providedwith internal instead of" external threads for faucets having externalthreads thereon; or any other suitable coupling means may be provideddepending upon the construction of the faucet. Y j n y The lower ordownstream end of casing `section 1 2 is formed with apluralityofdownwardly and'inwardly extending `lugs or projections each of which isVdesignated bythe numeral 1'6 in the'figures. Lugs 16 arecircumferentially arranged and spaced from one another. Each of the lugshas a surface thereon 16a which is faced up; wardly and substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of casing 12 so that it providesa ledge upon which certainportions of the internal structure-ofthedevice can be supported. The lugs 1'6 perform an additional function,that is, 'theyenable the aerating device tolfbe easily attached ordisengaged from the'faucet withlthe. use of a wrenchas' will becomeapparent below.v

Ring 17 formed of a spring material is provided. Ring 17 has a diameterof sufficient magnitude so that the ring can beheld in groove 11 ofhousing section 10 and'also groove 14 of housing section 12. Hence, asseen in-the drawings, spring ring 17 performs the function ofmaintaining housing sections 10 and 12 free of relatiye longitudinalmovement while allowing relative rotational movement. The provision ofsuch a connection or cou? y the'remaining functional portions of theaerator cannot be tampered with when the aerator is in position upon afaucet. This feature is not only highly desirable `but becomes essentialin certain installations.

An aerator and water flow guide sleeve 18 rests on the ledge 16a ofhousing section l12. The major portion of sleeve 18 is cylindrical andhollow with longitudinal channels I9 formed on the internal surfacethereof by pressing portions of the sleeve '18 outwardly so that eachchannel 119 is formed with `a corresponding longitudinal projection 20on the external surface of the sleeve. In the embodiment shown in FIGS.l and 2, six of the longitudinal channels 19 are provided with sixcorresponding projections 20. It is noted that each of the channels 19opens at the top or upstream end of sleeve 18 so that when sleeve 18 isviewed from above the distorted or non-circular periphery thereof isevident. Channels 19, however, terminate short of and above the extremelower or downstream end of sleeve 18 and the extreme enditself of sleeve18 is formed with a decreased circumferential diameter 18a. Sleeve 18performs the function of a stream straightener ow guide. Sleeve 18extends downwardly within the housing and spaced therefrom projections20 maintain sleeve 18 in spaced relation with housing 12 and the lugs 16of housing 12 support sleeve l18 at the lower or downstream end thereofas shown in the figures. Thisassembly provides a passageway 21 betweenthe housing 12 and the sleeve 18 for the upward or reverse flow of airbetween the projections 20 and the downward ow of acrated water passingthrough the sleeve. The ow through the sleeve is aided in direction bythe channels 19 provided in the sleeve 18.

It will be understood that the spaces between lugs 16 allow the passageof air upwardly into passageway 21 and that sleeve 18 which isconstricted at its lower end at 18a preferably extends below the bottomor lower end ofthe main portion of casing 12.

A jet air reverse member 22 in the form of an inverted cup is disposedin a position overlying sleeve 18. Member 22 is formed with a downwardlyextending cylindrical skirt 23, the inner surface of which lies adjacentprojections 20 of sleeve 18 and the outer surface of which has a portionadjacent the inner surface of housing section '12 beneath ledge 14thereof. Above skirt 23 the member 22 is formed with a conical sectionprojecting inwardly at an angle and terminating in a circular portionwhich is depressed at the center so that it is substantially concaveinwardly. The conical section is indicated in the figures by the numeral24 and the concave sectionis indicated by the numeral 25. The concavesection has a circular ycentral opening formed therein indicated in thefigures by the numeral 26 and the conical section has formed therein aseries of smaller circular openings or holes `indicated by the numeral27. Openings 27 are formed on a circumference and are spaced from eachother. The member 22 is dimensioned so that the skirt 23 does not extendbelow the lower or downstream end of thevmain portion of casing 12 whenthe member 22 is supported by sleeve 18 since the juncture of sections23 and 24of the reversing cup encounter the upper edge of sleeve 18which supports the reversing cup in position. The conical section 24provides a deecting surface laterally to detlect air inwardly of thesleeve as the air flows upwardly through the passageway 21 to enter asuction zone or chamber around the upper peripheral area of the Vsleeveas indicated generally at 28. As will become evident below as theoperation of the device is considered, the air passes upwardly throughthe passageway 21 and -is deected inwardly while the water which isintermingled with the air at zone 28, enters zone 28 through theopenings 27 in section 24 of the reversing cup. The spaced openings 27provide a plurality of converging jets of water under pressure as thewater cornes from the faucet.

A second deflecting member comprising a splash plug 2,9,is coaxiallysuspended from the central portion of the cup22 and is secured in thisposition by a rivet 30 pass- 4 ing therethrough which is upset as at 31over the section 25 of the inverted cup 22. Screens 32 and 33, separatedby spacer 34, are preferably secured to the bottom of the splash plug bymeans of the head 35 of the rivet 30.

It will be observed that splash plug 29 has a straight walledcylindrical section 36 which terminates in an increased diametersubstantially spherical section 37 with alsloping side of continuallydecreasing diameter. Screen 33 lies adjacent the lower surface of thesplash plug. A compression ring 38, preferably made of a suitableplastic, rests on the shoulder 14 of housing section 12 and conicalsection 24 of cup 22 and is in abutting relation with the faucet tomaintain the internal structure of the aerator in tightly sealedrelation.

Briefly, the operation is as follows and arrows are utilized to aid inthe description of the operation. Water passing through the faucetbuilds up pressure as it comes in contact with surface 24 of cup 22. Inorder to escape, it is injected through the openings 27 in surface 24 ofcup 22 in a series of peripheral converging jets under pressure. Aportion of these jets impinge upon the top side of plug 29 asillustrated by the arrows and are laterally directed to the sides ofsleeve 18 and then downwardly and are guided by the plurality ofchannels l19 in sleeve 18; other portions of the jets are directed tostrike the side of the sleeve above spherical portion 37 of the plug andare then deflected downwardly. It is the action of these jet streamsthat creates a suction zone or chamber in the area 28 and produces avacuum of considerable magnitude in a. constricted area because of thelack of water immediately flowing therethrough. This jet action sucksinto this area a considerable amount of air, also as shown by thearrows, coming from between the sleeve 18 and the side of cup 22 betweenthe projections 20 of the sleeve 18 above the passageway 21. This air isforcefully injected into the turbulence of the downstream flow of thejets after they have been deflected by the splash plug to beintermingled with the lateral jets striking the inner sidewalls of thesleeve 18. Upon reaching the screen 33 the aerated stream is broken upand the aeration characteristics considerably amplified and smoothed outas the stream passes through the second screen 32 and the constrictedportion 18a of the sleeve to provide a thoroughly smooth aerated streamof Water emanating therefrom.

The utilization in this design of a sleeve member 10 cooperating withthe mounting section 12 and joined therewith by means of spring member17 provides au aerating device which is Vandal-proof since thecomponents of the device are not exposed where they can be tamperedwith. 'Ihe device is applied to a faucet by utilization of a wrench orany implement which can be injected beneath sleeve 10 to grasp the lugs16 to allow turning of the device so that the threads can be coupledwith the threads of the faucet. The outer sleeve being rotatably mountedallows it to be freely rotated Without affecting the engagement of thedevice with the faucet.

In FIGS. 3-5 an alternate embodiment of the invention is shown. Thisform of the `invention is in many respects superior to the form of theinvention disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this second embodiment thecomponents thereof which are identical in structure to components foundin the lrst embodiment are designated by the numerals used in thedescription of the first embodiment but are followed in each instance bya prime Hence, in the rst embodiment, the inverted cup is designated bythe numeral 22 and, in the second embodiment, the inverted cup isdesignated by the numeral 22. The second embodiment discloses an aeratorof the type shown in FIG. l but the aerator of the second embodiment isa so-called shut-off aerator, or an aerator having two extremepositions; a position where the valve is closed so that no water canpass therethrough and a second extreme position where the valve is openand the maximum quantity of water can pass therethrough. Intermediatepositions, of course, are available. In the second embodiment, the

Vhousing section, which is analogous to the housing section 12 of 'theiirst embodiment, is indicated by the numeral 40 since in the secondembodiment the housing section differs in that it contains two inclinedgrooves indicated by the numeral 41. Each of these inclined grooves hasvone of its ends closer to the downstream or lower end of l,housing 40than its other end and the purpose ofthe --lacking since the coupling ofthe members in the second embodiment differs from that of the couplingin thefrst embodiment. The housing 40, however, is like housing 12 inthat lugs 16 are provided as well as shoulder 14' and external threading15'. It will be noted, however, that lugs 16 differ in construction fromlugs 16 in that there is no shoulder such as shoulder 16a provided inlugs l16. The reason for the absence of shoulders 16a in lugs 16 is thatthe mounting or means for supporting the assembly in the'secondembodiment differs from the means for supporting the assembly in the rstembodiment. In the lsecond embodiment, reversing cup 22' and flow guide18' are formed with circular openings to receive the end of screw 42which passes through sleeve or knob 43, through one of the grooves 41formed in housing 40, in order to be received in the circular openingsformed in the revers- .ing cup and the flow guide. In all other respectsreversing cup 22 and iiow guide 18' are identical with reversing cup.2,2 4and ow guide 18, respectively. The circular opening formed in thereversing cup is indicated by the numeral 44 in the figures and thecircular opening formed in flow guide 18 is indicated by the numeral 45in the gures. It should be noted that the screw 42 preferably has an endportion 46 thereof which is not threaded `and it is this end portionwhich is disposed within groove 41 and openings 44 and 45 in the nalassembly. Knob 43 which is circular surrounds housing 12 much as didsleeve 10 of the first embodiment. l The device disclosed in the secondembodiment is attached to a faucet much in the manner as the devicedisclosed in the irst embodiment. However, since the second embodimentis not Vandal-proof as was the first no special tool is required toplace it on the faucet. It will be noted that in the second embodimentthe sealing ring is formed slightly differently than the sealing ring 38of the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2. The sealing ling of thesecond embodiment is indicated in the drawings by the numeral 47 and itis noted that it is formed with a top or cover portion 48 which presentsto the water flowing from the faucet a 4smaller diameter entrance 49 totheaerator than Was presented in the first embodiment. I t should benoted that the opening 49 is formed incover section 48 so that in theclosed position which is the left position as shown in FIG. -3 theuppermost portion 50 of the jet air reversing cup ZZ' is in abutmentwithcover 48 of the sealing ring 47. A f The operation of the devicedisclosed in FIGS. 3-5 when the device is in the position shown on theright of the center line in FIG. 3 which is the open position isprecisely the same as the operation of the device disclosed in FIG. 2.In this embodiment, however,`the rotation of sleeve 43 about the centrallongitudinal axis of the aerating v device will move the screw 42 andthe portion 46 thereof from one position in groove 41 to another. Inother words, by rotating knob 43 screw section 46 can be made totraverse groove 41 in which it is disposed. The traversal of groove 41by screw section 46 will result in the raising or lowering of thereversing cup and the flow guide. Such longitudinal movement from theposition shown on the right in FIG. 3, which is the open` position, tothe position shown on the left in FIG. 3, which is the closed position,brings shoulder 50of the reversingcup inabutting relation with section48 of the sealing ring.: A sal therefore is created by the abutment ofshoulder 50 with section y48 of the sealing ring s o that the-water-owfrom the faucet passing through opening 49 in the sealing ring cannotflow through the openings 27 formed in the reverse cup. The ow of water,therefore, is completely cut olf and the aerator acts as a valve in theclosed position. Rotation of the sleeve 40 again can cause the section46 of screw I42 to traverse slot 41 lowering the reversing cup and llowguide and the associated assembly so that there no longer is a sealbetween shoulder 50 and sealing ring 48 thereby allowing Water from thefaucet to ow through opening 49 and openings 27. Intermediatepositioning of the reversing cup between the position shown on the leftin FIG. 3 and the position shown on the right in FIG. 3 will result inthe llow of an aerated stream through the device which is less than thefull flow which can be achieved in the valve open position. y

Thus, in the second embodiment of this inventionv as disclosed in FIGS.3-5, an aerating device is presented which can be easily manipulated byan operator to cause the device to act Ias a valve whereby the flowofwater therethrough can be completely cut oif or lessened toy a degreedesired. .Y

A third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 6. In` thisembodiment an aerating device is provided which, like the device of thesecond embodiment, vis a device having two extreme positions. In thedevice of the embodiment of FIG. 6, however, one extreme position, thatto the right of the `center line in FIG. 6, results in a needle sprayemanating from the aerating device, Whereas, in the extreme positiony asillustrated to the left of the center line in FIG. 6, a straight aeratedstream is available. Like the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5, intermediatepositioning of the device results in a flow which is a combination ofthe two extreme positions.Y f

The embodiment illustrated in FIG.`6 is shown attached to a faucet bymeans of a swivel arrangement so that .the user of the device lcandirect the flow through a radius if it is desired. The swivelarrangement consists of coupling member 50 which mounts ball 51 whichinturn projects through an opening in coupling member 50 which containscoupling ring 52. Coupling member 50 is externally threaded at 54 sothat it can be fastened to the internal threads of a faucet. Ball 51which is rigidly mounted Vto coupling 50 provides with coupling 52 andseal 53aba1l land socket connection with the faucet so that a swivelingof the aerating device illustrated in FIG. 6 can be accomplished..Itshould be understood that the ball and socket arrangement provided inVthis embodiment can be` utilized `with theembodiments of the inventionpreviously shown and described. It further should be pointed out thatthe use of the ball and socket for swiveling arrangement presents 'aminimum resistance'to the flow of waterk from the faucet, due' to thelarge diameter channels provided in the vcomponents ofl the swiveldevice. In the device of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 a knob or sleeve60l is pro;- vided with an opening to receive screw 61. 'I'he knob orsleeve `6I) contains a slot 62 wherein a sealing O-ring .63 isdisposed'. This is providedto prevent leakage through the device if itis desired. Cylindrical casing 64 containing external threads 65 forcoupling with 4a faucet if it is `desired-,to usel the deviceWithout'the swiveling attachment, contains an inclined slot 66 which issubstantially identical to rslot 41 formed in the casing 40 of thesecond embodiment. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 only one inclinedslot 66 is provided. Splash plug 67 in the embodiment of FIG. 6 differsfrom the splash plugs'illustrated in the preceding embodimentsprincipallyin that the yexfpanded portion thereof is somewhat moreregular having a uniform curvature so that the incline away from thebody thereof at the upper portion is substantially the same las theincline toward the body thereof at the lower portion. The expandedportion of the splash plug is indicated in the figures by the numeral68. The jet air reversing cup 69 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6ditlersfromv jet 'air reversing cups previously 4has an inclined section70 containing openings 71 which dfunction as did like sections andopenings in the first two embodiments. The cup 69 is modified in an-additional respect in that it has a peripheral portion 72 formed toseat on shoulder 73 formed in the casing 64, and seal 74 is vprovided tomaintain the reversing cup in position and to seal and prevent the flowof water in such a way that it will by-pass the opening 71 provided inthe cup.

The 'guide flow member provided in this embodiment is indicated by thenumeral 75 and contains a substantially regular straight cylindricalsection 76 provided with projections 77 'longitudinally disposed on theexternal -surfaee vthereof in the manner of projections -20 in the rstembodiment. Threaded section 78 of screw 61 is received in a circularopening 79 provided in body 76 of the flow guide. The upstream or topportion of the ow guide is provided with a decreased internal diametersection circumscribed by portion 80 of the ow guide. The internalportion or inwardly disposed fp'eriphery of section 80 is formed with anarcuate surface. The extreme lower or downstream end of the flow guideis internally formed with decreased diameter portion or `shoulder 81which can be an integral portion of the guide or which can be separatelyformed and rigidly attached thereto by gluing or otherwise. Section 81serves to present a decreased diameter flow path and also to maintain inposition within the guide screen 82. The lower end of the How guide isalso formed with a portion 83 which projects outwardly at the extremelower end of the ow guide to provide an increased external diametersection. The increased external diameter section cooperates with aninclined surface of the knob 60 to provide a passage 84 into chamber 85formed between the ow guide and the housing section 64. The chambers 85actually are a series of parallel longitudinally extending chamberssince the projections 77 are present. Further projections 83a areprovided on projections '83 to form in passage 84 a series of needlespray orifices. Projections 83a are radially spaced abutrnents which areseparated from one another and which in turn separate projection 83 fromthe inclined surface of the knob 60 opposite it.

In operation, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 can be utilized toobtain a ilow of the type which can be obtained from either of thedevices of the rst two embodiments. When the device shown in FIG. 6 isin the position shown to the left of the center line, `a straightaerated stream is achieved. The ow of air through passage 84 intochamber 85 and into the stream is indicated by the arrows. In the secondextreme position of the device shown in FIG. 6, the positionillustratedto the right of the center line, a straight aerated stream isnot achieved but rather a needle spray is achieved. It is noted thatrotation of sleeve 60 from the position illustrated to the left in FIG.6 to the position illustrated `o`n the right in FIG. 6 causes the owguide member 76 to be lowered so that the projection 80 thereof is inabutting relationship with enlarged portion 68 of the splash plugthereby preventing flow of water over the splash plug and out throughthe screen. The water then in order to be released from the aeratingdevice must flow down through chamber 85 and out the needle sprayorifices provided by openings 84.

This embodiment, therefore, gives the operator an aerating device whichcan be utilized for achieving a straight aerated stream or a needlespray, whichever is desired.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specificallynoted 'above are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in constructionand rearrangement ofthe parts may be made without departing from thescope of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

l. In a water aerating device Vfor a faucet including a A8 housinghaving a section to support the upstream e'nd of the device in coupledposition with said faucet; a jet air cup within said housing, acylindrical skirt 'of said jet air cup, a port section of said jet aircup disposed above said Tskirt and inclined inwardly and upwardlytherefrom, a cylindrical guide sleeve, a plurality of ylongitudinalchannels formed on the internal surface "df said guide sleeve, aplurality of longitudinal projections formed on the external surface ofsaid guide sleeve and disposed toward the internal surface of said skirtproviding therewith a plurality of longitudinal passagesbetween saidskirt and said guide sleeve, a splash plug projecting downwardly withinsaid cup and said gude sleeve lto provide a chamber between said splashplug and said port section, and a plurality of openings formed in saidport section to provide a series of jets whereby water forced throughsaid openings can be deflected by said splash plug and intermingledwithin the chamber with air drawn through the passages between saidskirt and said guide sleeve to provide an aerated stream of water guideddownwardly by said longitudinal channels.

2. A Water aerating device in accordance withclaim 1 in which first andsecond screens are disposed vertically from one another and permanentlyconnected to the flower end of the splash plug and perpendicular to theaxis thereof disposed in the path of the aerated stream of water.

3. A water aerating device in accordance with clain 1 in which thecylindrical guide sleeve is formed with "the lower end thereof ofrestricted diameter and said restricted diameter end lies below thelower end of the cylindrical skirt.

4. A water aerating device in accordance with claim 3 in which a seriesof spaced lugs depend downwardly and inwardly from said housing to formupwardly facing shoulders whereby to support said guide sleeve at therestricted diameter end.

5. A water aerating device in accordance with claim 4 in which acylindrical sleeve is provided having its lowermost end overlying saidlugs and lWholly concealing the same from view, said sleeve having achannel formed on its internal surface for cooperating with a springring disposed in a like channel formed in the external surface of thehousing whereby said sleeve and said housing are prevented fromlongitudinal movement.

6. A water aerating device in accordance with claim 1 in which thesplash plug is provided with a regular vertical cylindrical surfacedeining a portion of the chamber between the splash plug and the portsection and an increased diameter section beneath said regular surface.

7. A water aerating device in accordance with claim 6 in which theincreased diameter portion is substantially spherical with a lowersloping side of continually `decreasing diameter.

8. A water aerating device in accordance with claim yl in which meansare provided within said housing to block the passage of watertherethrough.

9. In a water aerating device for a faucet including a housing having asection to support the upstream end of the device in coupled positionwith said faucet, a jetair cup within said housing, a cylindrical skirtof said jet air cup, apo'rt section of said jet air cup disposed abovesaid skirt and inclined inwardly and upwardly therefrom, a cylindricalguide sleeve, a plurality of longitudinal channels formed on theinternal surface of said guide'sleeve, a plurality of longitudinalprojections formed on the external surface of said guide sleeve anddisposed toward the internal surface of said skirt providing therewith aplurality of longitudinal passages between said skirt and said guidesleeve, a splash plug projecting downwardly within said cup and saidguide sleeve to provide a chamber between said Vsplash plu-g and saidport section, means coupling said jet air cup, said guide sleeve and'said splash plug together for unitary longitudinal movement within saidhousing, first and second positions of said jet air cup,

said guide sleeve and said splash plug, moving means provided for movingsaid jet air cup, said guide sleeve and said splash plug from one ofsaid positions to the other, a water flow entrance into said device,blocking means preventing ow of water through said entrance when saidjet air cup, said guide sleeve and said splash plug are in said iirstposition, and a plurality of openings formed in said port section toprovide a series of jets whereby water forced through said openings whensaid jet air cup, said guide sleeve and said splash plug are in secondposition can be deflected by said splash plug and intermingled withinthe chamber with air drawn through the passages between said skirt andsaid guide sleeve to provide an aerated stream of water guideddownwardly by said longitudinal channels.

10. A water aerating device in accordance with claim 9 in which thewater flow entrance consists of a sealing ring formed with an openinginterposed between said device and said faucet, and a circumference isprovided on said sealing ring, and the jet air cup is formed with acircular shoulder which abuts said circumference and forms a sealtherewith blocking the flow of water to said jets when jet air cup,guide sleeve and splash plug are in said iirst position.

11. A water aerating device in accordance with claim 9 in which thehousing is formed with an inclined slot, a cylindrical sleeve overlyingsaid slot, an elongated member movably disposed in said slot andattached at one end to said sleeve and at its remaining end to said jetair cup, said cylindrical guide sleeve, and said splash plug, wherebyrotation of said sleeve can cause said elongated member to traverse saidslot and cam against the edges thereof to move said jet air cup, saidcylindrical guide sleeve and said splash plug longitudinally within saidhousing.

l2. A water aerating device in accordance with claim 9 in wfhich thesplash plug is provided with a regular vertical cylindrical surfacedening a portion of the chamber between the splash plug and the portsection and an increased diameter section beneath said regular surface.

13. A water aerating device in accordance with claim l2 in which theincreased diameter portion is substantially spherical with a lowersloping side of continually decreasing diameter.

14. In a water aerating device for a faucet including a housing having asection to support the upstream end of the device in coupled positionwith said faucet; a jet air cup within said housing, a cylindrical skirtof said jet air cup, a port section of said jet air cup disposed abovesaid skirt and inclined inwardly and upwardly therefrom, a cylindricalwall depending vertically from said skirt, a cylindrical sleeve, aplurality of longitudinal projections formed on the external surface ofsaid sleeve and disposed toward said cylindrical wall providingtherewith a plurality of longitudinal passages between said cylindricalwall and said sleeve, a splash plug projecting downwardly within saidsleeve to provide a chamber between said splash plug and said portsection, and a plurality of openings formed in said port section toprovide a series of jets whereby water forced through said openings canbe detlected by said splash plug and intermingled within the chamberwith air drawn through the passages between said cylindrical wall andsaid sleeve to provide an aerated 10 stream of water guided downwardlyinternally of said sleeve.

15. In a water aerating device for a faucet including a housing having asection to support the upstream end of the device in coupled positionwith said faucet; a jet air cup within said housing, a cylindrical skirtof said jet air cup, a port section of said jet air cup disposed abovesaid skirt and inclined inwardly and upwardly therefrom, a cylindricalwall depending vertically from said skirt, a cylindrical sleeve, aplurality of longitudinal projections formed on the external surface ofsaid sleeve and disposed toward said cylindrical wall providingtherewith a plurality of longitudinal passages between said cylindricalwall and said sleeve, a splash plug projecting downwardly within saidsleeve to provide a chamber between said splash plug and said portsection, said cylindrical sleeve being longitudinally movable withinsaid housing, first and second positions of said cylindrical sleeve,moving means provided for moving said cylindrical sleeve from one ofsaid positions to the other, blocking means preventing ow of waterthrough said cylindrical sleeve when said cylindrical sleeve is in saidrst position, and a plurality of openings formed in said port section toprovide a series of jets whereby water forced through said openings whensaid cylindrical sleeve is in said iirst position can be emitted fromsaid device in a needle spray through the passages between saidcylindrical wall and said sleeve and can be deflected by said splashplug and intermingled within the chamber with air drawn through thepassages between said cylindrical wall and said sleeve when said sleeveis in said second position to provide an aerated stream of water guideddownwardly internally of said sleeve.

16. A water aerating device in accordance with claim 15 in which thecylindrical sleeve is provided with a circumferential inwardlyprojecting bead and the splash plug is provided with an increaseddiameter portion constructed and arranged to abut said bead and formtherewith a seal when said sleeve is in said rst position.

17. A water aerating device in accordance with claim 15 in which thehousing is formed with an inclined slot, a cylindrical encasing memberoverlying said slot and encasing said housing, an elongated membermovably disposed in said slot and attached at one end to said encasingmember and at the remaining end thereof to said sleeve whereby rotan'onof said encasing member will cause said elongated member to traversesaid slot and cam against the edges of said slot to move said sleevelongitudinally within said housing.

18. A water aerating device in accordance with claim 14 in which thesplash plug is provided with a regular vertical cylindrical walldefining a portion of the chamber between the splash plug and the portsection and is further provided with an increased diameter sectionbeneath said regular wall.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,744,738 Hjulian May 8, 1956 2,754,097 Hjulian July 10, 1956 2,888,209Hjulian May 26, 1959 2,889,999 Tomlinson June 9, 1959 2,935,265 RichterMay 3, 1960

